• Grouse - 12 Aug to 10 Dec
• Ptarmigan - 12 Aug to 10 Dec
• Black Game - 20 Aug to 10 Dec
• Partridge - 01 Sep to 01 Feb
• Pheasants - 01 Oct to 01 Feb

There is no close season for hares, but in morelands and unenclosed non-arable lands, hares my be shot only by the occupier and persons authorised by him between 01 Dec (01 Jul in Scotland) and 31 Mar. Furthermore, hares may not be sold or offered for sale during the months of March to July inclusive. In Great Britain it is illegal to shoot any of the above on Sundays or on Christmas Day. Residents of Northern Ireland and Eire should refer to local sources of game seasons.

Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981

This act makes it illegal to shoot certain birds at any time of the year. Other birds may be shot by authorized persons at any time except Sundays in Scotland, on Christmas Day and on Sundays in England and Wales in those areas where Sunday shooting has been expressly forbidden by order of the Secretary of State. These other birds are:

• Lesser Gull
• Magpie
• Domestic Pigeon
• Collared Dove
• Herring Gull
• House Sparrow
• The Great Gull
• Jackdaw
• Starling
• Jay
• Woodpigeon

In addition certain other wild birds may only be shot. During the open season relevant to them. These include the following:

Capercaillie - 01 Oct to 31 Jan
Common Snipe - 12 Aug to 31 Jan
Wild Duck & Goose - Inland 01 Sep to 31 Jan, Below MHW 01 Sep to 20 Feb

Woodcock - 01 Oct – 31 Jan (England & Wales) (Scotland 01 Sep to 31 Jan)

Other birds, eg Coot, Moorhen, Golden Plover* Sep 1 – Jan 31

Curlew - Protected - Jack Snipe - Protected

These dates are also subject to the exclusion of Christmas Day and Sundays in Scotland, and certain prescribed areas of England and Wales on Sundays.

*wild duck and geese subject to the restrictions notes above are as follows:
Geese: Canada, Grey-lag, Pink-footed, White fronted (England & Wales only)
Wild Duck: Common Pochard, Gadwall, Golden-eye*, Mallard, Pintal*, Shoveller, Teal, Tuffed duck, Wigeon.

There are special penalties for killing during the close season those birds are marked with an asterisk

The open seasons may be restricted in any area by order of the Secretary of State. They may also be restricted for any particular bird due to severe weather conditions.

Deer

Statutory Open Seasons for Deer Species England & Wales Scotland:

Red Stags - 01 Aug to 30 Apr (Scotland 01 July to 20 Oct)
Red Hinds - 01 Nov to 31 Mar (Scotland 21 Oct to 15 Feb)
Sika Stags - 01 Aug to 30 Apr (Scotland 01 July to 20 Oct)
Sika Hinds - 01 Nov to 31 Mar (Scotland 21 Oct to 15 Feb)
Fallow Bucks - 01 Aug to 30 Apr (Scotland as Eng & Wales)
Fallow Does - 01 Nov to 31 Mar (Scotland 21 Oct to 15 Feb)
Roe Bucks - 01 April to 31 Oct (Scotland 01 April to 20 Oct)
Roe Does - 01 Nov to 31 Mar (Scotland 21 Oct to 31 Mar)
• Chinese Water Deer Bucks - 01 Nov to 31 Mar
• Chinese Water Deer Doe - 01 Nov to 31 Mar
  Muntjac - Anytime, there is no statutory closed season for this species. It is recommended that when culling a female muntjac immature or heavily pregnant does are selected to avoid leaving dependent young.